HURRICANE

US, 1979, 120 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Bottoms, Mia Farrow, Trevor Howard, Dayton Ka’ne, James Keach, Jason Robards, Max von Sydow.
Directed by Jan Troell.

Hurricane is a spectacular film, filmed in the South Pacific on location. It received quite bad reviews at the time – but it is impressive as a melodramatic love story along with special effects for the Pacific hurricane.

Timothy Bottoms and Mia Farrow play the doomed couple. There is strong support from Trevor Howard as Father Malone. Jason Robards is the captain of the ship and Max von Sydow also appears.

The film was directed by Jan Troell, the Swedish director who had made a big impact with The Emigrants and The New Land (with Max von Sydow) in the early 1970s, winning Oscar nominations. In Hollywood, he directed Zandy’s Bride with Liv Ullmann and Gene Hackman.

The film is something of a remake of John Ford’s The Hurricane of the 1930s with Jon Hall and Dorothy Lamour.

Producers were impressed by Dayton Ka’ne as a romantic lead. He was then hired to film Beyond the Reef in 1981 – however, Hurricane and Beyond the Reef were the only two films that he made.

1. Entertaining, spectacular, romance? A remake of the thirties original? The traditions of the seventies' spectacular, disaster trend? A good example?

2. The use of Panavision, colour? The landscapes, seascapes, the sky and colour? The special effects especially the hurricane, destruction? The contribution of the musical score and the variety of themes?

3. How authentic a presentation of Samoa? The period of the early 20th century, the islands themselves, life on the islands, customs, the people themselves?

4. The film's presentation of the American presence on Samoa? The historical background, the Samoans asking for the American presence, the oaths of loyalty of the Chieftains to America? The Governor and his role, the responsibility to Congress, the presence of the Navy and the Marines? A form of colonialism ? the film's critique of this? The racist overtones and the way these were presented? The film's criticism of such a government set?up?

5. The presentation of the white doctor and his role on the islands, the Catholic priest and the influence of religion, the adaptation of traditional ceremonies and beliefs to the American presence, to the Catholic religion? What were the impositions of Catholicism? The contrast of the role of the priest and the doctor with that of the governor and the administration?

6. The technique of the audience entering with Charlotte? Her tour of the islands, the explanations given to her and the audience? Making the audience feel at home in the islands? Mia Farrow's style and presence as Charlotte? As an American, her background. her father and the separation from her mother? Her relationship to her father and her status as the governor's daughter? The expectations of marriage with Jack? His attentions to her and the detail of her looking around the islands? The fascination with Matangi? The way that the camera looked at him as through her eyes? The importance of the woman with the note and Matangi's putting her up to it? Her moving through the various political situations, ceremonials on the island? Her attendance at the ceremonies for Matangi's installation as Chief? Her fascination with him, curiosity? Her decision to stay? The fact that Jack and her father and the doctor could see what was happening? Their yarning? Her father's hostility? How well delineated was her character? A credible woman, credible behaviour in these situations? Audience sympathy for her and her love for Matangi?

7. The introduction of Matangi - as hero for the film? His place in the governor's household and his being trained, yet his being humiliated an a servant? The importance of his becoming Chief? The detail of the ceremonial and his participation in it? The importance of the dance with Moana and his passion? The criticism of civil injustice to the governor and the various reactions to this? The setting up of Matangi as an honourable Samoan and honourable Chieftain within this system ? and his oath to the United States?

8. How well did the film develop the relationship between Charlotte and Matangi? Love, passion? The various incidents and symbols used to illustrate this especially the swimming? The love-making and their joining together? Matangi's confession and his decision to marry Charlotte according to old traditions? Her hesitations and refusal? Her statements about courage and love? The contrast with Moana's presence, her watching the couple? The importance of her being raped and the contrast with the love-making of Matangi and Charlotte?

9. Matangi's decision to marry Moana, Father Malone's reaction? The defloration ceremony and the doctor's reaction, Father Malone's drinking, Charlotte's horror? The build-up of the ceremony and its explanation, government attitudes? The focus on the chiefs, Moana and her fear, the man who had raped her, Matangi? her fears, flight, the pursuit by Matangi and Charlotte and the struggle for her lift? The reaction of the governor in bringing the case to court?

10. Jason Robards' style as the governor? His attitudes of justice and administration, as illustrated in his personal relationships and his wife leaving him? His love for Charlotte and its overtones of passion? Severe administration, his treatment of the Letter of Appeal and of Matangi's writing it? His ceremonial behaviour? His attitudes of protecting Charlotte? His behaviour at the ceremony and the rebuke by Matangi? His administration of the trial, his harshness and obsession? The imprisonment of Matangi, his escape?

11. Charlotte's offering herself to him for Matangi and his not being bought in justice or in love? The obsession with the search, his reaction to the marine's death, his chaining of Matangi during the hurricane? How much did he realize about himself as he went to his death? A melodramatic character ? how credible within the context and situations of Samoa?

12. The portrait of Jack? as an American, naval man, ordinary and bland, as an alternative to Matangi? His helping Charlotte to visit Matangi and the participation in his escape? His standing up to the governor about the hurricane, his death?

13. How well did the film present the way of life on the islands at the time ? cars and ancient customs, American Navy and fishing boats, ceremonies and dancing, old traditions in the 20th century? Old religions and Catholicism?

14. The imprisonment of Matangi and his attempts to escape, the clash with the marine and his hostility and humiliation, his escape? The swimming and the failure of the doctor to hear him, his exhaustion and re-imprisonment? The brig and Charlotte's engineering his escape? The effect of the death of the marine?

15. The build-up to the hurricane, the suggestions of rain throughout the film, the beauty and menace of the seascapes? How well did the film illustrate the dangers, the challenge of escape, the reef, and landing on the island, the American ship and its destruction? The focus on the waves, the wind, the sea, tying themselves to the tree and surviving, the breaking of the houses, the destruction of the church and the ship going into the church? The special effects and the reality of the hurricane? As a symbol of passion and of punishment?

16. The aftermath with Matangi and Charlotte surviving, the disappearance of the mission, a new Eden with new Adam and Eve? A satisfying ending?

17. Themes of passion and love, race and interracial loye, traditions, religion and the character of Father Malone and his attitudes towards the Samoans, confession, helping, the end and dying with the people? The doctor and his help and his participation in the trial? Themes of punishment and retribution, the American presence as the ultimate evil rather than the love between Charlotte and Matangi?

17. The film received bad reviews on release. Were they justified? The film considered as spectacular soap opera? Of themes of love and human nature?